22 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Created using Klarna Trips Costa Rica travel planner
Start: Los Angeles
Fly
1
San Jose
— 1 night
Drive
2
Cartago
— 1 night
Drive
3
Uvita
— 5 nights
Drive
4
Quepos
— 2 nights
Drive
5
Monteverde
— 2 nights
Drive
6
La Fortuna de San Carlos
— 3 nights
Drive
7
Zarcero
— 1 night
Drive
8
San Jose
— 5 nights
Fly
End: Los Angeles
Sat, Aug 5 - Sat, Aug 26
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View full calendar
San Jose — 1 night
©
On the 6th (Sun), relax and rejuvenate at ZENfit 506, look for gifts at J.LANG Atelier & Showroom, then stroll around Parque La Sabana, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Metropolitan Church (Catedral Metropolitana), and finally let your taste buds guide you at a local gastronomic tour.
To see more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the San Jose tour itinerary planner.
Los Angeles, USA to San Jose is an approximately 9-hour flight. You can also drive. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from Los Angeles to San Jose due to the time zone difference. In August, daily temperatures in San Jose can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 22°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Cartago.
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To see more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the San Jose tour itinerary planner.
Los Angeles, USA to San Jose is an approximately 9-hour flight. You can also drive. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from Los Angeles to San Jose due to the time zone difference. In August, daily temperatures in San Jose can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 22°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Cartago.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 5 — 7:
Highlights from your trip
Cartago — 1 night
©
Kick off your visit on the 7th (Mon): appreciate the views at Orosi River Valley, contemplate the long history of Ruins of Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion, then take in nature's colorful creations at Jardin Botanico Lankester, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Santuario Nacional Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, and finally contemplate the long history of Ruins of the Church of Carthage.
To see where to stay, photos, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Cartago road trip planning site.
You can drive from San Jose to Cartago in an hour. Other options are to drive; or take a bus; or take a train. In August, daily temperatures in Cartago can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 22°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can drive to Uvita.
more
To see where to stay, photos, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Cartago road trip planning site.
You can drive from San Jose to Cartago in an hour. Other options are to drive; or take a bus; or take a train. In August, daily temperatures in Cartago can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 22°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can drive to Uvita.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 7 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Uvita — 5 nights
©
Get out of town with these interesting Uvita side-trips: Cano Island (in Drake Bay) and Kokopelli (in Sierpe). And it doesn't end there: stroll through Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, head outdoors with Outdoor Activities, enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Ventanas, and see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour.
To find maps, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Uvita trip site.
Getting from Cartago to Uvita by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Quepos.
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To find maps, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Uvita trip site.
Getting from Cartago to Uvita by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Quepos.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 8 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
Quepos — 2 nights
©
On the 14th (Mon), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: stroll around Parque Nahomi, then enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Manuel Antonio, and then stop by Altair Souvenir & Gallery Shop.
To find reviews, photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Quepos tour site.
Getting from Uvita to Quepos by car takes about an hour. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Monteverde.
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To find reviews, photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Quepos tour site.
Getting from Uvita to Quepos by car takes about an hour. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Monteverde.
Find places to stay Aug 13 — 15:
Highlights from your trip
Monteverde — 2 nights
©
Start off your visit on the 15th (Tue): stroll through Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, then explore the galleries of Alas y Raices, and finally tour the pleasant surroundings at Ranario Monteverde Frog Pond. On the next day, stroll through Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena, take in nature's colorful creations at Monteverde Orchid Garden, get to know the resident critters at The Bat Jungle, then look for gifts at Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery, then take in the exciting artwork at Arte Jaguar Gallery, and finally relax and rejuvenate at Monteverde Karmen Massage.
For maps, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Monteverde trip planner.
You can drive from Quepos to Monteverde in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to La Fortuna de San Carlos.
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For maps, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Monteverde trip planner.
You can drive from Quepos to Monteverde in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to La Fortuna de San Carlos.
Find places to stay Aug 15 — 17:
Highlights from your trip
La Fortuna de San Carlos — 3 nights
La Fortuna de San Carlos is known for nature, adventure, and parks. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: get outside with Outdoor Activities, get impressive views of Arenal Volcano, let your taste buds guide you at a local gastronomic tour, and push the limits with an extreme tour.
For reviews, ratings, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our La Fortuna de San Carlos road trip tool.
Drive from Monteverde to La Fortuna de San Carlos in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Zarcero.
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For reviews, ratings, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our La Fortuna de San Carlos road trip tool.
Drive from Monteverde to La Fortuna de San Carlos in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Zarcero.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Aug 17 — 20:
Highlights from your trip
Zarcero — 1 night
©
Kick off your visit on the 20th (Sun): pause for some serene contemplation at Iglesia Catolica de Zarcero, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Iglesia de San Rafael, and then walk around Costa Rica's Senor Scissorhands Topiary.
To find where to stay, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Zarcero trip itinerary builder app.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Zarcero. You will leave for San Jose on the 21st (Mon).
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To find where to stay, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Zarcero trip itinerary builder app.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Zarcero. You will leave for San Jose on the 21st (Mon).
Find places to stay Aug 20 — 21:
Highlights from your trip
San Jose — 5 nights
©
Get out of town with these interesting San Jose side-trips: Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz (in Vara Blanca), Alajuela (Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm, City Mall, &more) and Tarcoles (Nature & Wildlife Tours & Tarcoles Bridge). Enjoy San Jose some more: explore the striking landscape of Poas Volcano, take an in-depth tour of Jade Museum, capture your vacation like a pro with an inspiring photography tour, and view the masterpieces at Galeria Namu.
For ratings, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, read our San Jose attractions app.
Explore your travel options from Zarcero to San Jose with the Route module. On the 26th (Sat), you'll have the morning to explore before heading back home.
more
For ratings, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, read our San Jose attractions app.
Explore your travel options from Zarcero to San Jose with the Route module. On the 26th (Sat), you'll have the morning to explore before heading back home.
Side Trips
Alajuela, Tarcoles, Riish and Toosh Afro Costa Rican Paintings, Poas Volcano, Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz
Find places to stay Aug 21 — 26:
Highlights from your trip
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Costa Rica travel guide
Tiny in terms of land area, Costa Rica is astoundingly diverse when it comes to culture and natural attractions. In a country called "Rich Coast", it's no surprise most Costa Rica vacations dedicate at least a few days to picturesque Pacific and Caribbean beaches, ideal for water sports and relaxation. Few small countries offer such a range of landscapes, allowing tourists to observe towering volcanoes while soaking away their worries in a hot spring, or hike into dense rainforests in the morning and surf at a modern resort in the afternoon. A trip to Costa Rica also lets you discover pristine national parks, ensuring plenty of chances to view wildlife from the comfort of eco-friendly lodges packed with amenities even ardent nature lovers secretly desire.
